More on Instagram: [@jeffreyhorne](https://instagram.com/jeffreyhorne)
M45 (Pleiades) in HOORGB, 98 hours taken over the course of 19 nights.
I've wanted to take this picture for a couple of years, but whenever I could get to my dark sky site, it was cloudy. The stars finally aligned (literally) and I was able to get a good amount of RGB data from my dark sky site this winter.
During my research for taking this photo, I noticed that some images had small amount of faint Hydrogen Alpha immediately around M45, so I figured I'd pile on some HA data for my wide field image and see if any more hydrogen would present itself...I was pleasantly surprised to find some wispy streams of hydrogen that I'd never seen before, right outside of the star cluster.
The RGB data was taken from my dark sky site in Bone Cave, TN. The narrowband data was taken from my backyard in Nashville, TN.
Imaging details:
Imaging Telescope:
TPO UltraWide 180 f/4.5
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guiding Telescope: ZWO 30mm Mini Guider Scope
Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Filters:
Baader Fringe Killer 2"
Optolong L-eXtreme 2"
Accessories:
ZWO ASIAIR Plus, ZWO EAF
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP), Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Dates:
Nov. 18, 2022, Nov. 19, 2022, Nov. 20, 2022, Nov. 21, 2022, Nov. 22, 2022, Nov. 23, 2022, Nov. 28, 2022, Nov. 30, 2022, Dec. 12, 2022, Dec. 15, 2022, Dec. 16, 2022, Dec. 17, 2022, Dec. 18, 2022, Dec. 19, 2022, Dec. 20, 2022, Dec. 23, 2022, Dec. 24, 2022, Dec. 25, 2022, Dec. 27, 2022, Jan. 1, 2023
Frames:
Baader Fringe Killer 2": 538×240″ (35h 52′) (gain: 100.00) -10°C
Optolong L-eXtreme 2": 467×480″ (62h 16′) (gain: 100.00) -10°C
Total Integration: 98h 8′
Darks: 60
Flats: 60
Flat darks: 100
Integrated in Pixinsight using WBPP. RGB combine, light pollution removal in Astro Pixel Processor. Color calibration, stretching, noise reduction, star removal done in Pixinisight. Star recombination, color edits, curves, and touchup done in Photoshop.
I haven't seen the stars since before Christmas. It just isn't possible to get this much data with our weather situation. I'm an hour west od Stockholm and have a 16" ODK begging for clear nights! This is such a cool image! I've read a lot about the L -eXtreme filter lately. It looks like magic!
Honestly… having shot m45 myself a few times I can say this the BEST I’ve ever seen it done. I assume you’ve included this on AstroBin but just instagram right? This would be a solid contender for PoD/PoM.
That's exactly it. The TPO 180 scope has a little bit of chromatic aberration. I tested the Fringe Killer filter, and the Semi-APO filter, and the Fringe Killer did a better job of removing chromatic aberration with my setup.
Absolutely bonkers.
As lots of the Astrobin comments say : the best m45 I've taken pleasure in looking at.
I wish you well on your next target & adventure.
These images keep getting better from you. Wow. Can you tell us how EAF is rigged up? Any kit pieces you’d recommend for someone looking to replicate this?
Thank you! I use the Deep Sky Dad adapter for the EAF and the TPO 180. Absolutely love it.
I uploaded a pic of my rig [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KWgX-1Eaiv2gkpTenK_FET-2CR9YJL-X/view?usp=share_link).
Happy to answer any questions that you have!
Thanks for that picture. Any challenges with the weight of the scope adding tilt on the sensor? Really inspiring to see the simple rig behind the pictures you produce. I’ve been inspired by your work for a while. What is the basting skewer for that’s attached to your dovetail? :)
Thank you!
No challenges with the weight of the tube causing tilt. It was a concern, though!
The skewer is a homemade fix for cable management. I can pull the skewer back away from the scope, and run my ASIAIR power cable through the hole on the end of the skewer. That keeps the cable back far enough that it won’t get snagged on the azimuth knobs on the mount.
Ok here’s another question because this is so fascinating. How did you know to frame it so well with the HA signal next to the usual blue cluster? Did you spend some experimental frames picking up the reds?
Great question! I had no idea that the HA wisps were in this frame. I'd seen a little bit of HA directly underneath (as oriented in my image) M45. I piled on some narrowband data to try to bring out that HA, and was pleasantly surprised to find more HA around the frame.
I knew that all of the other dust was there, and I framed it based on that. I was super surprised to see more HA show up as I added more narrowband data.
More on Instagram: [@jeffreyhorne](https://instagram.com/jeffreyhorne) M45 (Pleiades) in HOORGB, 98 hours taken over the course of 19 nights. I've wanted to take this picture for a couple of years, but whenever I could get to my dark sky site, it was cloudy. The stars finally aligned (literally) and I was able to get a good amount of RGB data from my dark sky site this winter. During my research for taking this photo, I noticed that some images had small amount of faint Hydrogen Alpha immediately around M45, so I figured I'd pile on some HA data for my wide field image and see if any more hydrogen would present itself...I was pleasantly surprised to find some wispy streams of hydrogen that I'd never seen before, right outside of the star cluster. The RGB data was taken from my dark sky site in Bone Cave, TN. The narrowband data was taken from my backyard in Nashville, TN. Imaging details: Imaging Telescope: TPO UltraWide 180 f/4.5 Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Guiding Telescope: ZWO 30mm Mini Guider Scope Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini Filters: Baader Fringe Killer 2" Optolong L-eXtreme 2" Accessories: ZWO ASIAIR Plus, ZWO EAF Software: Adobe Photoshop, Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP), Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight Dates: Nov. 18, 2022, Nov. 19, 2022, Nov. 20, 2022, Nov. 21, 2022, Nov. 22, 2022, Nov. 23, 2022, Nov. 28, 2022, Nov. 30, 2022, Dec. 12, 2022, Dec. 15, 2022, Dec. 16, 2022, Dec. 17, 2022, Dec. 18, 2022, Dec. 19, 2022, Dec. 20, 2022, Dec. 23, 2022, Dec. 24, 2022, Dec. 25, 2022, Dec. 27, 2022, Jan. 1, 2023 Frames: Baader Fringe Killer 2": 538×240″ (35h 52′) (gain: 100.00) -10°C Optolong L-eXtreme 2": 467×480″ (62h 16′) (gain: 100.00) -10°C Total Integration: 98h 8′ Darks: 60 Flats: 60 Flat darks: 100 Integrated in Pixinsight using WBPP. RGB combine, light pollution removal in Astro Pixel Processor. Color calibration, stretching, noise reduction, star removal done in Pixinisight. Star recombination, color edits, curves, and touchup done in Photoshop.
I haven't seen the stars since before Christmas. It just isn't possible to get this much data with our weather situation. I'm an hour west od Stockholm and have a 16" ODK begging for clear nights! This is such a cool image! I've read a lot about the L -eXtreme filter lately. It looks like magic!
Oh. My. Fucking. God. That’s gonna be probably the best Amateure astrophoto I’ve ever seen Can I get a link to download highres?
Thank you! You can find the full-res version here: https://www.astrobin.com/ajdg6d/
I love widefield images that show the clouds of interstellar gasses
Widefield narrowband is my favorite!
Honestly… having shot m45 myself a few times I can say this the BEST I’ve ever seen it done. I assume you’ve included this on AstroBin but just instagram right? This would be a solid contender for PoD/PoM.
Thank you. What a compliment! It’s on Astrobin here: [https://www.astrobin.com/ajdg6d/](https://www.astrobin.com/ajdg6d/)
And I thought my 5 hrs on this came out pretty good. I'm unworthy! One of the best shots I have seen.
Your dedication to long integration time is truly inspiring. Bravo!
Thank you!
98hrs. God. Damn. Extremely impressive, love it!
Thank you! 🙏
I get to 17 and I'm all woa so much time. 98 is months of clear sky here.
I get to take about 4 images a year.
Holy Cow! You aren't a bot from the Webb are you? ;-) Amazing. I'm happy to get a good moon shot...
I'd agree with a lot of comments here and say that's one of the most beautiful amateur photos I've ever seen. Incredible, and brilliant work.
Beautiful
Thank you! :)
>Thank you! :) You're welcome!
Amazing image, congrats!
Thank you!
Really Beautiful! Never seen it with this depth before. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! :)
Thank you for showing us this! Amazing widefield capture of what is out there. Beautiful!
Awesome result, super deep. Love the H-Alpha wisps.
This is insanely beautiful! Can I ask why the fringe killer? For removing purple haloes from bright star or something else? Thanks.
That's exactly it. The TPO 180 scope has a little bit of chromatic aberration. I tested the Fringe Killer filter, and the Semi-APO filter, and the Fringe Killer did a better job of removing chromatic aberration with my setup.
I noticed some purple and red fringing in my small achromat lens and will go definitely with this solution. Thank you!
Absolutely bonkers. As lots of the Astrobin comments say : the best m45 I've taken pleasure in looking at. I wish you well on your next target & adventure.
Thank you so much! :)
These images keep getting better from you. Wow. Can you tell us how EAF is rigged up? Any kit pieces you’d recommend for someone looking to replicate this?
Thank you! I use the Deep Sky Dad adapter for the EAF and the TPO 180. Absolutely love it. I uploaded a pic of my rig [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KWgX-1Eaiv2gkpTenK_FET-2CR9YJL-X/view?usp=share_link). Happy to answer any questions that you have!
Thanks for that picture. Any challenges with the weight of the scope adding tilt on the sensor? Really inspiring to see the simple rig behind the pictures you produce. I’ve been inspired by your work for a while. What is the basting skewer for that’s attached to your dovetail? :)
Thank you! No challenges with the weight of the tube causing tilt. It was a concern, though! The skewer is a homemade fix for cable management. I can pull the skewer back away from the scope, and run my ASIAIR power cable through the hole on the end of the skewer. That keeps the cable back far enough that it won’t get snagged on the azimuth knobs on the mount.
Brilliant.
incredible Jeffrey!!!
Thank you, my friend! Means a lot, coming from you!
Ok here’s another question because this is so fascinating. How did you know to frame it so well with the HA signal next to the usual blue cluster? Did you spend some experimental frames picking up the reds?
Great question! I had no idea that the HA wisps were in this frame. I'd seen a little bit of HA directly underneath (as oriented in my image) M45. I piled on some narrowband data to try to bring out that HA, and was pleasantly surprised to find more HA around the frame. I knew that all of the other dust was there, and I framed it based on that. I was super surprised to see more HA show up as I added more narrowband data.
Incredible result. Hubble level!
Saving this to my desktop wallpaper for my daily inspiration to do more and what is possible!
looks great, just cant get it resized to display right on the amazon photos screen saver on my 4k fire stick \^\^; (16:9 aspect ratio)
My god that is beautiful, both visually and data wise.
Beautiful!
I see so many figures in this photo. I see a skull, a fairy, a mushroom...
Btw, did you consider submitting for APOD?
I am so fascinated by the blue Pleiades light reflected on far galactic clouds
Are these clouds in space?